Shanahan raves about Brock Purdy as 49ers prepare for extension after 2024

Mar 27, 2024, 3:44 PM

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 12: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a touchdown pass during the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

The San Francisco 49ers have been looking for a franchise quarterback for more than a decade, and they appear to have finally found one in Brock Purdy.

2024 marks the first time in his professional career that Purdy will have a full offseason of normalcy, something his head coach is elated about. Kyle Shanahan gave an interview with an NFL Network explaining such, and how Purdy has gone above and beyond their expectations in his first two seasons.

But what’s been most impressive? How Purdy has responded from a serious injury to lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl a year later.

“He’s been unbelievable,” Shanahan said about Brock Purdy. “He’s done it week in and week out, come back from a really tough injury in his first year. Had a hell of a year this year. Really hasn’t had an offseason yet with us…I’m pumped to coach him.”

Almost every QB selected before Brock Purdy and many after him the last two seasons has been traded, demoted and certainly hasn’t reached the Super Bowl. 49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan goes into that and more in our conversation from the NFL Annual Meeting. pic.twitter.com/AmGvaoKSx3

— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) March 27, 2024

Making his first Pro Bowl in 2023, the Iowa State alum has elevated himself towards the top of the QB class in the NFL. But with the increased performance, Purdy will be looking for his paper, with a massive extension now in play after next season.

And if he continues his elevation with the 49ers, that record-setting deal won’t be a bother for Jed York and the 49ers’ brass.

“It’s a good problem when your quarterback is one of the highest-paid guys on your team and in the league,” the 49ers CEO said this week during the NFL annual meetings. “It’s what the market is…Brock is going to ask for something that no one has ever asked for before. I don’t know how many players are making over $40 million [per year] as a quarterback right now.”

York hasn’t been shy about paying for star power, holding the most allocated salary cap in 2024 at a whopping $196 million. But in order to pay a QB, you have to make room, restructuring several veteran deals and cutting players for further flexibility down the line. Those decisions are a hard pill to swallow at times, but necessary if Purdy truly is the guy moving forward.

The 49ers thought Jimmy Garoppolo was the guy after he was traded to the team in 2017. York and his team turned around and handed him a record-setting deal that paid him $27.5 million annually, the most for a gunslinger at the time. But while that didn’t work out the way SF wanted it to, it hasn’t discouraged them from making a similar commitment several years later.

“You see the market has changed,” York added. “Whether I like it or not, that’s what the market is, and you have to accept the reality of the world.

“To me, the quarterback is the most important position, not just in football but in all of sports, and those guys should be paid a lot.”

Brock Purdy has two years remaining on his rookie contract, scheduled to make just over one million dollars for 2024. Both player and team can pursue a long-term extension after Year 3, something both sides appear eager to do at this time. Those numbers have been projected between $270-$300 million, with a majority guaranteed, according to Sports Illustrated.

A pretty penny indeed. But one the 49ers are happy to pay for their franchise QB.

Jed York and the #49ers are expecting Brock Purdy to have a massive contract extension next season 👀💰

📷: @YahooSports pic.twitter.com/CyipO9lQiW

— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) March 27, 2024